No SSN? No problem. California's immigrant entrepreneurs fuel the largest state economy in the nation. Whether you operate in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, or anywhere in the Golden State, Merchant Fund Express provides business funding from $5,000 to $500,000 using your ITIN.
Apply Now - Get Funded in 24 HoursNo SSN required. No impact on immigration status. 100% confidential.
California is home to the most diverse and entrepreneurial immigrant population in the United States. Nearly 27% of all California business owners are immigrants, and the state's 39.42% Hispanic population represents the single largest demographic group driving small business creation from Bakersfield to the Bay Area.
Yet traditional banks continue to shut out these entrepreneurs. The Small Business Administration has historically required an SSN for most loan programs, creating a massive barrier for the estimated 1.6 million Californians who file taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. These business owners pay taxes, employ workers, serve their communities, and generate billions in economic activity -- but the conventional financial system treats them as invisible.
That is changing. In 2024, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution directly challenging the SBA's SSN requirement, calling it discriminatory against immigrant entrepreneurs who contribute significantly to the local economy. This landmark move reflected what California business owners already know: ITIN holders are creditworthy, hardworking, and deserving of the same access to capital as any other entrepreneur.
Merchant Fund Express was built to fill this gap. We provide revenue-based business funding to ITIN holders across California without requiring an SSN, a FICO score, or collateral. Your business revenue is your credential. Your growth is your credit score.
California stands apart from most states in the strength of its protections for immigrant business owners. Understanding these protections matters when you are seeking funding:
Takes less than 5 minutes
Have questions about ITIN funding? Our California specialists speak English and Spanish.
(305) 384-8391Funding based on your monthly revenue, not credit scores. Repay as a small percentage of daily sales. Ideal for seasonal California businesses.
$5K - $500K
Receive a lump sum based on future sales. Flexible payments tied to your revenue. No fixed monthly installments that strain cash flow.
$10K - $400K
Short-term capital to cover payroll, inventory, equipment, or expansion costs. Keep your California business running smoothly.
$5K - $250K
Fund the equipment your California business needs: commercial kitchen gear, construction tools, trucks, salon stations, and more.
$10K - $500K
Complete our simple application in under 5 minutes. Provide your ITIN, basic business information, and upload your bank statements.
Our team reviews your revenue and business performance. No credit pull. No SSN check. Decisions typically within 24 hours.
Receive your funding offer with clear terms, total cost, and repayment schedule. No hidden fees. Full transparency per California law.
Funds deposited directly into your California business bank account within 1-3 business days. Start growing immediately.
California is one of the most accessible states for immigrant entrepreneurs to start, register, and operate a business. Here is what you need to know about the practical requirements:
California does not require an SSN to form a business entity. You can register a sole proprietorship, LLC, or corporation with the California Secretary of State using your ITIN. The filing fee for an LLC is $70, and annual franchise taxes begin at $800 (with a first-year exemption for new LLCs). You can obtain an EIN from the IRS using your ITIN, which allows you to open a business bank account and establish your business identity.
If your California business sells tangible goods, you will need a seller's permit from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). This is free to obtain and does not require an SSN. Local business licenses vary by city and county -- Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, and most major cities accept ITINs for business license applications.
Several major banks and credit unions in California accept ITINs for business bank account applications. Institutions that have historically been ITIN-friendly include:
California requires all businesses to file state taxes regardless of the owner's immigration status. You will file a California Franchise Tax Board return using your ITIN. Maintaining clean tax records with your ITIN is one of the strongest actions you can take to build a funding track record -- lenders like Merchant Fund Express view consistent tax filing as evidence of business legitimacy and financial responsibility.
Home to over 4.9 million Hispanic residents and the largest concentration of immigrant-owned businesses in the nation. From East LA taco trucks to Downtown garment manufacturers, ITIN entrepreneurs power the LA economy. LA County's Board of Supervisors has formally advocated for ITIN lending access.
The Bay Area's diverse economy includes thousands of ITIN-holding business owners in construction, food service, cleaning, tech support, and retail. San Francisco's Office of Financial Empowerment actively connects ITIN holders with banking and business resources.
Situated along the U.S.-Mexico border, San Diego has a thriving cross-border business community. ITIN entrepreneurs operate across industries from tourism to agriculture. The Binational Chamber of Commerce supports funding access for immigrant business owners.
California's agricultural heartland depends on immigrant entrepreneurs running farms, food processing businesses, trucking operations, and agricultural supply companies. The Central Valley's ITIN business community is essential to the state's $50+ billion agriculture industry.
One of the fastest-growing regions for Hispanic-owned businesses in California. The logistics and warehousing boom has created massive opportunities for ITIN entrepreneurs in trucking, packaging, delivery services, and commercial cleaning.
From the state capital to Silicon Valley's service economy, ITIN entrepreneurs are everywhere in California. Sacramento's growing population and San Jose's high cost of living both create demand for the essential services immigrant-owned businesses provide.
"I came to Los Angeles from Puebla with nothing but determination. After 3 years running my food truck, the banks still would not talk to me because I had an ITIN. Merchant Fund Express approved me for $45,000 in two days. I now have a permanent restaurant location in Boyle Heights."
Maria G.
Restaurant Owner -- Los Angeles, CA
Funded: $45,000
"My landscaping business was growing faster than I could handle. I needed a new truck and commercial mower to take on bigger contracts. With my ITIN, no bank would help. Merchant Fund Express looked at my revenue and funded me within 48 hours. Revenue has doubled since."
Carlos R.
Landscaping Business -- Fresno, CA
Funded: $28,000
"Running a cleaning company in the Bay Area is competitive. I needed capital to hire more workers and buy equipment for commercial contracts. The entire process was in English and Spanish, and they never asked about my immigration status. Just my business numbers."
Ana L.
Commercial Cleaning -- San Jose, CA
Funded: $35,000
Do not see your industry? Call (305) 384-8391 -- we fund virtually every California business type.
| Requirement | Traditional CA Banks | Merchant Fund Express |
|---|---|---|
| SSN Required | Yes, mandatory | No -- ITIN accepted |
| Credit Score | 680+ FICO required | No credit score needed |
| Time in Business | 2+ years typically | 4+ months |
| Collateral | Real estate or assets | No collateral needed |
| Approval Time | 4-12 weeks | 24 hours |
| Documentation | Tax returns, financials, business plan | Bank statements + ITIN |
| Language Support | English only at most branches | English and Spanish |
California's GDP exceeds $3.9 trillion, making it the fifth-largest economy in the world -- larger than the United Kingdom, India, or France. Immigrant entrepreneurs are fundamental to this economic engine. More than 40% of Fortune 500 companies in the United States were founded by immigrants or their children, and California hosts the headquarters of more of these companies than any other state.
The state's immigrant business community is not limited to tech giants in Silicon Valley. It extends to the 900,000+ Hispanic-owned businesses operating in every corner of the state: the construction crews rebuilding after wildfires, the restaurants feeding communities, the trucking companies moving goods through the world's busiest port complex in Long Beach, the agricultural operations feeding the nation.
California's 39.42% Hispanic population -- approximately 15.6 million people -- represents the largest Hispanic community in the United States. This population is young, entrepreneurial, and increasingly business-savvy. According to the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, Latino-owned businesses in California are growing at 2.5 times the rate of all other businesses in the state.
Despite this growth, access to capital remains the single biggest barrier. A Stanford study found that 50% of Latino business owners who applied for bank loans were denied, compared to 24% of white business owners. For ITIN holders without traditional credit histories, the denial rate is even higher.
This is why alternative funding sources like Merchant Fund Express are critical to California's continued economic growth. By providing revenue-based funding that evaluates business performance rather than immigration paperwork, we help close the capital gap that holds back the state's most dynamic entrepreneurs.
California's commitment to immigrant inclusion is not just moral -- it is economic. Research from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center shows that providing access to capital for ITIN entrepreneurs creates jobs, increases tax revenue, and strengthens local economies. Every dollar invested in an immigrant-owned small business generates an estimated $3.50 in local economic activity.
When you apply for ITIN business funding through Merchant Fund Express, you are joining a movement that California's government, business community, and residents all support: giving every hardworking entrepreneur the tools to succeed, regardless of where they were born.
Applying costs you nothing. If we cannot find a funding option that works for your California business, you owe us nothing. No application fees. No obligation. No SSN required. Your information stays 100% confidential and is never shared with government agencies.
Apply With Zero RiskGet approved in 24-48 hours with funding up to $500K+ for your business
See exactly what lenders see. Know your approval odds before you apply.
30-minute call with a funding expert to maximize your approval amount.
Custom spreadsheet to plan your funding use and maximize ROI.
Total Value: $593
Today: FREE
When you apply in the next 48 hours